Myringoplasty Quality Control Is Necessary: Comparison of Surgical Results of Two Consecutive Series in A Single Institution.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare myringoplasty results from two different consecutive series conducted at the Kuopio University Hospital during a four-decade period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 315 patients (a total of 338 ears) who underwent myringoplasty at Kuopio University Hospital between the years 1986 and 2012. The results from this series were compared with those form a previously published series of 404 patients who underwent myringoplasty between 1970 and 1985 at the same institution.

RESULTS: Myringoplasty was considered to be successful whenever the tympanic membrane remained closed without atelectasis. The results were analyzed at the 1- and 3-year follow-up. The overall success rate after 1 year was 82.8% compared with 88% in the previous series. The success rate after 3 years was 87.4%. The best closure rate after 1 year (85.7%) was achieved with fascia grafts (n=272) and perichondrium (85.7%, n=14). The closure rate of 61.9% with the perichondrium/cartilage graft (n=21) and 71.0% with the fat graft (n=31) was statistically significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared with that with the fascia graft. The postoperative air-bone gap (0.5-4 kHz) was < 10 dB(HL) in 56.2% and < 20 dB(HL) in 79.6% cases compared with 61% and 87%, respectively, in previous series.

CONCLUSION: Myringoplasty is a safe procedure with a reasonably high success rate. We observed a slight deterioration in the overall results compared with the previous series. This study highlights the importance of systematic quality control and the results and the need for follow-up of the learning curve after the introduction of new surgical techniques and materials.